Written Aug. 10

Sanibonani!

I know, I know, I haven’t updated in forever. I’d like to update more often, of course, but I don’t have regular Internet access. It’ll be easier for me to keep you apprised of what’s going on when I finish training in two weeks. At that point I’ll be on my own and can come and go as I please (mostly). That will mean more opportunities to hit up the Internet cafes. I’ll also plan to post photos at that point; I know many of you would like to see what I’m looking at here.

I got my site placement. I’m not allowed to give details publicly on the interwebs, but I can tell you that I’m in the Manzini region. The country has four regions: Manzini, Hhohho, Lubombo and Shiselweni. Manzini is central, so I’ll be fairly close to the big cities. I’ll be working with a huge clinic, which I’m really excited about. They offer inpatient services and have a public health arm. Very exciting! Email me directly if you want to know the specifics. Props to Peace Corps for giving me everything I asked for. I definitely appreciate their consideration.

I met my permanent host family, too. Everyone is very nice and speaks at least some English. My babe (father) tells me Jack owes him 17 cows for my hand. I think the figure is low, personally, but I suppose I should take Jack’s lack of access to cows into consideration. He’s getting a bargain wife, I can tell you. I’ll have brothers and sisters on the homestead, and a host mother as well. I have my own hut with electricity. I know what you’re thinking: not exactly roughing it. I won’t have access to water on the homestead, though, so I’ll have to figure out how to get it from the river. My counterpart is having her father negotiate with a local man who might be able to transport it for me. That’s the ideal situation — assuming the cost isn’t too high. I don’t yet know what the going rate is.

The counterpart I’m working with is passionate about community health. She seems like she’ll be an excellent partner.

We are scheduled to be sworn in Aug. 23 and move to site the next day. Training is still going well. I’m not making as much progress on learning siSwati as I’d like to, but I hope to continue my learning once I hit community. The patients at the health center seem to speak mainly siSwati. That should help a great deal. We’ll see how I go.

Y’all have done an amazing job of sending letters and packages! Jack sent me an MU snuggie, which is VERY exciting. I was pleasantly surprised that he bought such a thing. I also got my first coffee shipment, some Starbucks from Lindsey. That was killer. The sweatshirts from my parents arrived, and I’ve gotten letters from Jor, Uncle Dick and Aunt Kathy, Susannah (x2), Meggie, Sara and Jack. I think that’s it. Thank you all! It really does mean a lot to me, and I hope you’re able to keep up the wonderful correspondence. I’ll have three months of integration where I can’t really leave my site, so all notes will be very much appreciated. Rest assured they’ll be decorating my hut, as will any postcards or images you send. And Lindsey sent a newspaper, which was awesome. All newspapers and crosswords are welcome!

I’m going to miss my temporary host family when I leave. They’ve been so wonderful and accommodating; it’s really been a pleasure.

Word on the street is that Mama and Papa T are considering a visit. Those of you around them should pressure — ahem, encourage — them to act on that impulse. When else will they have a free tour guide in southern Africa? Peer pressure, folks. It’s very in right now.

Today’s siSwati lesson:

Inyoka (k sounds like g, remember) = snake

Tinyoka = snakes

Invubu = hippo

Ingwenya = crocodile, to be found during summer in the river near my village

Ngifuna ube umfati wami = I want you to be my wife (taught to me by my new babe; he said men in the village would tease me by saying it to me)

Ngitsembisile ngitawushada masinyane = I’m engaged to be married soon

Ngijabulile kukwati = I’m happy to meet/know you

Thanks again, everyone.